Coupling attachment and testing machine.



J. P. BUGKLEY. COUPLING ATTACHING AND TESTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED0012s, 1909.

1,022,720. Patented Apr. 9, 912,

4 SHBETS-SHEET 1.

Witness J. P. BUGKLEY. COUPLING ATTAGHING 'AND TESTING MACHINE. v I

APPLICATION FILED 00123, 1909. 1,022,720. Patented Apr. 9, 1912. Imums-sum: a. 2

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I J. P. BUGKLBY. I COUPLING ATTAGHING AND TESTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 00123; 1909. 1,022,720. Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

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J. PLBUGKLEY. COUPLING ATTAGHING AND TESTING MACHINE.

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PatentedApr. 9, 1912.

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JOHN P. BUCKLEY, F DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 MAURICE D. LARKIN, DOINGBUSINESS AS LARKIN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

COUPLING ATTAO-HING AND TESTING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN P. BUCKLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Coupling Attaching andTesting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to pressure applying machines adapted to subjectannular bodies to excessive internal pressure whereby said annularbodies will be expanded equally in all directions and relates moreparticularly to machines for securing hose to the coupling membersthereof and for testing hose, particularly hose of comparatively largediameter such as fire hose and for other similar purposes.

The object of the invention is to simplify the structure as well as themeans and mode of operation of such devices whereby they will not onlybe cheapened in construction but will be more efiicient in operation,easily operated, and unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object is to provide an expanding member which will operatewith equal movement and equal pressure throughout its entire periphery.

A further object is to provide means for giving to such expanded memberincreased power and to further provide means for accurately gaging theworking pressure of the expanding member.

A further object is to provide improved controlling mechanism wherebythe expand-.

ing member may be readily controlled through minute degrees ofadjustment at the will of the operator.

\Vith the above primary and other incidental objects in view as willmore fully appear in the specification, the invention consists of thefeatures of construction, the parts and combinations thereof and themode of operation or their equivalents as hereinafter described and setforth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the assembledmachine. Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section of the assembledmachine. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the assembled machine.Fig. 4 is a sectional View of the expanding member in its inoperative orcontracted position. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the expandingmember in its operative position.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 23, 1909.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

Serial No. 524,166.

Figs. 6 and 7 are end views of the expanding member in contracted andoperative positions respectively, said figures correspondingrespectively with Figs. 4 and 5. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view ofone of the sectors of the expanding member. Fig. 9 is a detail viewshowing the inter-engagement of the sector with the retaining collar.Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional plan view of the controlling valve.Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional plan View of the controlling valve. Fig.12 is a bottom plan view of a modification thereof. Fig. 13 illustratesa modification of the means of operating the expanding member. Fig. 14is a sectional view of a portion of the hose with the coupling attachedshowing the work performed by the machine forming the subject matter ofthe present invention.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

In providing means for attaching the metallic coupling members tosections of hose it is usual to provide the annular flange 1 of thecoupling member 2 with a corrugated or irregular interior as shown at 3.The extremity of the hose section 4 projects within the flange 1 and isengaged therewith by an annular metallic ring 5 which is inserted withinthe interior of the hose 4 and in registry with the corrugations of theflange 1 and is then expanded by suitable expansion devices to tightlyimpinge the extremity of the hose section 4 between the outer peripheryof the annular ring 5 and the interior corrugations of the couplingmember 2 whereby the hose wall will be forced into the corrugations 3 ofthe coupling member thereby holding the parts securely together.Heretofore, various means have been employed for expanding the annularring 5. On account of the nature of the parts and the working strain towhich the coupling is subjected the expanding devices are necessarilyvery powerful. Heretofore, it has been very diflicult to gage thepressure with which the couplings are applied whereby all the couplingswill receive substantially the same compression. The interior diameterof the couplings and the rings varies slightly through inaccuracies ofmanufacture and the same is true of the walls of the hose.

Vith the expanding devices heretofore in use it has been very difficultto gage the pressure applied exactly, the result being that in somecases the expansion was so great as to strain or destroy the body of thecoupling 2. In other cases and perhaps at the opposite end of the samesection of hose the expansion was not sutliciently great to properlysecure the hose and the coupling. These results were frequently foundwhere the attempt to gage the pressure had been made by limiting themovement of the operating parts to paths of prescribed limit. Toovercome such difficulties and to gage the application of the couplingsby the pressure with which the couplings are applied and not by themovement of the operating parts within certain limits is one of theprimary objects of the present invent-ion.

. To accomplish this result there is employed a main base or table 6preferably supported upon legs but which may be otherwise supported upona bench or other suitable foundation. Mounted upon the base 6 is a pumpcomprising a stock 7 extending downward through the base 6 andterminating in the coupling 8 to which may be attached a supply hose 9leading fro-1n a suitable source of water sup-ply preferably a supplyunder pressure such as a city water supply. Adjacent to the coupling 8the pump stock 7 is provided with a check valve 10. A pump piston 11reciprocates within the stock 7 and is provided with the usual pistonvalve 12. Located about the base 13 of the pump is a revoluble annularcollar 14 having a lateral arm provided with lugs 15 to which is pivotedan upward projectinglink 16 pivoted at its upper extremity to the pumphandle 17 which handle is connected to the piston rod 18 of the pumppiston 11. By this construction the handle 17 is revo-lubly adjustablein relation to the pump whereby the handle may be shifted throughout anarc to sundry positions most suitable to the operator. At its upperextremity the stock 7 terminates in a reservoir or dome 19 through whichthe piston rod 18 extends. The dome 19 comprises both a reservoir forwater and an air chamber in which the air is placed under pressure bythe incoming water thereby insuring an even flow of water from the dometo the operated parts. Leading from the lower part of the reservoir ordome 19 is an outlet port 20 communicating with the vertical conduitmember 21. The conduit member 21 at its upper extremity is connectedwith a pressure gage 22 by which the pressure of the water supplypassing through the conduit member 21 is registered. An outlet port 23from the conduit member 21 communicates with the controlling valve bywhich the water supply to the operating parts is regulated. Thecontrolling valve comprisesacup-shaped casing 24 to the bot-tom of whichis secured an off-take pipe 25. Revolubly mounted within the cupshapedcasing 24 is the valve member 26 having located therein a horizontalport or conduit 27 having a flaring mouth 28 which flaring mouthregisters with the port 23 leading from the conduit member 21. Theextent of the flaring mouth is such that the said mouth will be inregistry with the port throughout the entire degree of movement of thevalve member 26. At its op- 7 posite extremity the horizontal port 27registers with one of the two ports 2930, according to the revolubleadjustment of the valve member. The ports 29 and 30 communicate withoppositely extending conduits 31 and 32 located in a horizontal recessedbar 33. Secured upon the base 6 is a cylinder 34 having therein areciprocating piston The conduits 31 and 32 com municate with theinterior of the cylinder 34 on opposite sides of the piston 35. Thevalve member 26 is provided with an upward projecting stem 36 to whichis secured an operating lever 37. Formed upon the cup-shaped casing 24is a lateral ledge 38 over which plays an indicator or pointer securedto and movable with the valve member 26 and adapted to indicate by itsposition the relative positions ofthe horizontal port 27 in relation tothe ports 29 and 30. By the rotation of the valve member 26 the port 27may be shifted from registry with the port 29 into registry with theport 30 or vice versa thereby directing the water supply to either sideof the piston 35 within the cylinder 34. The valve may also be soadjusted that the port 27 will stand intermediate the two ports 29 and30 in which case the water supply is out off.

By reference to Fig. 11 it will be seen that the valve member 26 doesnot extend entirely to the bottom of the cupshaped casing 24 but arecess or chamber 39 is provided below the valve member 26. Located inthe valve member 26 upon each side of the port 27 are vertical grooves40. The grooves 40 are so located in the valve member 26 that when theport 27 is in registry with either of the ports 29 or 30 one of thegrooves 40 will at the same time be in registry with the other port 29or 30, as the case may be, thereby providing for the discharge of waterfrom the cylinder 34 through the corresponding conduit 31 or 32 andgroove 40 into the chamber 39 from which it is conducted by the ofl'take pipe 25.

In Fig. 12 is shown a modification of the controlling valve in which thevalve'member 26 is adapted to extend entirely to the bottom of thecup-shaped casing 24 and on its lower face is provided with converginggrooves 41 connecting the vertical grooves 40 with a central recess 42registering with the mouth of the oiftake pipe 25. The cylinder 34 isprovided with a sleeve 43.

The piston rod 44 of the piston extends through a suitable stuffing-box45 and reciprocates within the sleeve 43. The expanding mechanism iscarried upon the extremity of the sleeve 43 and is operated by thereciprocatory movement of the piston stem 44. The expanding mechanismcomprises a retaining or spacing collar 46 screw threaded into theextremity of the sleeve 43 and provided with a plurality of radiallydisposed recessed slots 47 equally spaced in the face of said collarwith which the movable sectors 48 engage. The sectors may be of anydesired number, preferably approximately twelve. However, more or lesssec tors may be used according to the character and size of the work tobe performed. The sectors comprise equal divisions of the annular bodyas shown particularly in Figs. 6 and 7. At their inner extremity thesectors 48 are provided with longitudinal projecting lugs 49 having aflange or beaded head 50 adapted to engage the radial recessed slots 47of the retaining and spacing collar 46. The construction is such thatthe sectors 48 may be moved to and from the axis of the collar 46 whilebeing held in their relatively spaced positions by the engagement of thelugs 49 with the radial slots 47. The sectors 48 are further providedwith registering peripheral grooves 51 which combine to form acontinuous groove about the collection of sectors in which is located anendless elastic band 52. The elastic band 52 may be either a continuoushelical spring or it may be of rubber or other elastic composition.Extending centrally through the retaining and spacing collar 46 andengaging the inner or concentric face of the sectors 48 is areciprocating tapered mandrel 53 attached to the extremity of the pistonrod 44 and movable therewith. The construction is such that upon theretraction of the tapered mandrel 53 the sectors 48 by the engagement oftheir inner faces with the said mandrel will be forced outward againstthe tension of the elastic band 52 as shown particularly in Fig. 7. Asthe mandrel 53 is moved in the opposite direction or outward under theaction of the piston 35 the elastic band 52. will cause the sectors toretract, returning to normal position as shown in Fig. 6. During theirmovement the sectors are maintained in their proper spaced relationequally disposed about the periphery of the expanding member by theengagement of the lugs 49 with the radial slots 47. A gage collar isadjustably mounted upon the extremity of the sleeve 43 and adapted tolocate the coupling member 2 in relation to the expanding sectors.

In operation thecoupling member 2 is located about the retaining andspacing collar 46 in engagement with the gage collar 60 with theextremity of the hose section in place within the hose coupling 2 andthe annular ring 5 located about the periphery of the expanding sectors48 and within the hose. The cont-rolling valve 26 is then rotated tobring the port 27 into registry with the port 29 which communicates bymeans of the conduit 31 with the sector 34 at the forward side of thepiston 35. The pump being connected by means of the supply hose 9 withthe city water supply which supply is usually under pressure of fiftypounds. The water will flow through the supply hose 9 past the checkvalve 10 and thence by the conduit member 21 and through the supplyvalve to the forward side of the cylinder tending to retract the pistonand the tapered mandrel 53 connected therewith thereby setting the partsof the coupling and placing them under a limited pressure, the result ofthe ordinary water pressure whatever this may be. The pump is thenoperated by means of the handle 17 to increase the water pressure and bypumping the pressure within the cylinder 34 is increased, forcing thepiston 35 gradually back and thereby retracting the tapered mandrel 53which causes the expansion sec tors 48 to expand within the annular ring5 stretching said ring and placing the extremity of the hose between theannular ring and interior of the coupling under compression. Thepressure of the water by which the mandrel is retracted and the sectorsex panded will be indicated at each stage by the pressure gage 22.

By manipulating the controlling lever 37 of the valve 26 the operationof the parts is at all times under the control of the operator and theforce with which the coupling is applied can be definitely determinedand by means of the pump the pressure can be increased up to the desiredpoint which will vary according to the character of the work for whichthe hose is indicated and according to the quality and construction ofthe couplings.

Leading from th base of the reservoir 19 at right angles to the port 20is a conduit 54 having therein a valve 55 and at its extremity a screwthreaded head 56 with which the coupling of a section of hose may beengaged. There is provided for the op posite extremity of the hosesection a head 57 having therein a vent cook 58. After the hosecouplings have been applied it is very desirable and usually necessarythat the hose should be tested to insure the proper connection of thehose and couplings. In order to test the hose one of the couplings isattached to the head 56 of the conduit 54. The head 57 is secured to thecoupling at the opposite extremity of the hose section and the vent cockis open to permit the escape of air. The valve 55 is then opened iadmitting water to the hose section and when the air has been exhaustedfrom the hose section and water appears at the vent cock 58 the ventcock is closed and the water pressure within the hose section isincreased by means of the pump before described until the required testpressure is indicated upon the indicator 22. It is to be understood thatduring this testing operation the valve 26 is adjusted with its port 27intermediate the ports 29 and 30 thereby cutting off the water supply tothe cylinder 34.

In Fig. 13 is shown a modification of the expanding mechanism in whichthe mandrel 59 corresponding to the mandrel 53 before described is shownwith its taper arranged in the opposite direction whereby the sectors aswill be distended by the forward movement of the piston 35 instead of bythe retraction of the piston as before described.

It is to be understood that the expanding mechanism including thesectors and tapered mandrel may be provided in different sizes andinterchanged whereby all the sizes may be employed in connection withthe same operating mechanism.

IVhile the actuating fluid has been referred to as water, throughout thepreceding specification, it is to be understood that other fluids may beemployed in place thereof, such as compressed air, steam, oil, or otherfluids.

It is to be understood that while the invention is herein described andshown as applied to a hose attaching machine, for which purpose it isespecially adapted, it. is not limited to such use, but may be employedas a tube expander, or for the purpose of forming articles in hollowdies, or other similar purposes.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusproduced a machine of the character described, possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportion, detailconstruction, or arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination withradially movable expansion devices, of means for operating saidexpansion devices comprising a cylinder, a reciprocating piston thereinadapted by its reciprocatory movement to operate the expansion devicesin a radial direction, fluid supply conduits communicating with thecylinder on opposite sides of the piston adapted to admit fluid theretounder pressure, to expand the expansion devices into engagement with thework, a

pump for raising the normal pressure of the fluid to further expand thesaid devices a predetermined amount, and a pressure inclicator.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with anannular body having a variable circumference, of means for varying saidbody comprising acylinder, a reciprocating piston therein adapted by itsmovement to cause the expansion of the annular body, fluid supplyconduits leading to the cylinder supplying actuating fluid underpressure, to expand the annular body into engagement with the work, acontrolling valve regulating the flow of actuating fluid and directingthe same alternately to opposite sides of the piston, and meanscontrolled by the operator to increase the fluid pressure to furtherexpand the annular body a predetermined amount.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination withradially adjust-able expansion devices, of means for operating saidexpansion devices comprising a cylinder, a reciprocating piston thereinadapted by its movement to adjust the expansion devices to and fromacommon point, fluid supply conduits leading to the cylinder supplyingactuating fluid under pressure, a pump adapted to gradually raise thepressure of the actuating fluid above its normal pressure, a pressuregage indicating the pressure of the, actuating fluid, and a controlvalve adapted to divert the fluid to either side of the piston.

4. The combination with expansion devices of operating means foroperating said expansion devices comprising a cylinder, a reciprocatingpiston therein adapted by its movement to actuate the expansion devices,fluid supply conduits leading to the cylinder and adapted to supplyactuating fluid to actuate the piston, thereby expanding the expansiondevices into engagement with the work, and means controlled by theoperator to further expand the expansion devices apredetermined amount,a valve adapted by its operation to relieve the pressure upon the pistonwhen the predetermined expansive movement of the expansion devices isaccomplished, and a gage indicating the actuating pressure at differentstages of operation, substantially as specified.

5. In a machine of the character described, an expanding body adapted toengage the work, fluid pressure means for initially expanding the saidbody into engagement with the work, and supplemental means under thecontrol of the operator for increasing the fluid pressure tosubsequently further expand the annular body a predetermined amount,substantially as specified.

6. In a machine of the character described, an expanding body adapted toengage the Work, fluid pressure means adapt- In testimony whereof, Ihave hereunto set ed at normal pressure to expand the said my hand this12th day of October A. D. body into engagement With the Work, and 1909.

means under the control of the operator to JOHN P. BUCKLEY. increase thefluid pressure above normal to Vitnesses:

further expand the said body a predeter- THEODORE G. LINDSEY, J12,

mined amount, substantially as specified. F. L. WALKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents; Washington, D. G.

